Losing a Pullet Each Month

[mithious]

I have had a similar issue. I have lost 5 of 9. I sent the fourth for a necropsy. Eggcessive gave me this link:

http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/statevets.aspx

I was able to ship my (deceased) pullet using a courier service from the health department. $8 shipping + $50 for the necropsy. The results were "probable Mareks". It gave me some peace of mind that I wasn't killing them through Newbie-itis.

My flock was vaccinated for Mareks but I still lost 60%.

Just so you know, vaccinating for mareks does not stop them from getting mareks, just stops the tumors from forming, but lately there have been some cases of mutated mareks, and also, it depends on the vaccine used...only a few of the larger hatcheries use the 3 vaccine strains, most smaller hatcheries use just the turkey vaccine and not all vaccines are equal either...especially i the virus has mutated, or the vaccine batch has an issue...sorry you all have to go through losing birds...I have been wondering lately, if there is more than we know, going on with some of the hatcheries, as I am seeing large losses, or maybe mareks is being brought onto properties from wild birds that have the mutated virus...seems a lot of birds are testing positive for mareks lately...kinda weird to be hearing it so prevalent, and scary too!!! As this virus lives in the land for years and years, it could be mutating in the land and wild population...I wish some scientists would look into this!!! For those of you facing mareks, there is a great link on here, lots of good, caring people called, mareks in the flock, not an emergency. I read a lot of it, as it also has other diseases, as mareks birds immune systems are shot, so I have learned a lot...hope you all check it out and find some support from the wonderful people there!!! Tons of info too.

 

[bbkaren]

Thank you all - I think her crop is okay but I'm still giving her scrambled eggs, some raw milk and half an acidophilus pill each day in addition to her feed, acv in her water, and she's isolated for most of the day (I let her out to free range for a couple hours) in a rabbit hutch.

The valbezan has been ordered and I'll dust them all with Sevin tomorrow. I hope she can hang in there till I get the wormer into her.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

 

[bbkaren]

Annnnd she's gone. sigh.

Yesterday she acted like she was blind - bumping into the food dish in the rabbit cage like she couldn't see it - until I shuffled my finger around in the food so she could hear it. Then she'd find the food and eat.

This morning, she was lying in the waterer, soaking wet, almost gone...and a few minutes later, that was that.

The wormer comes tomorrow - in her condition I doubt it'd have saved her, but I hope it'll solve this ongoing problem so we won't lose any more.

I know it's just a chicken but I get so danged attached! And it's so frustrating not knowing what's happening to them - well, hopefully that part will be solved.

 

[BigECarter]

Sorry to hear that.

Can you send her for a necropsy? Store the body in the refrigerator while you sort through the arrangements. Don't freeze her.

 

[bbkaren]

I'm afraid I haven't got the funds for that; but I'm going to open her up and see if she's wormy. Wish me luck! lol

 

[bbkaren]

I can't believe I'm typing this...but she's still alive. I swear, earlier I picked her up and she was limp and her eyes were shut! Her head lolled when I held her.

I left her to do school with the little guy and when I went back out there she was lying down but...alive.

I still think she's blind, though - won't eat unless I shuffle the feed so she can hear where it is.

So I put her on the ground in the yard so she'd dry out and warm up (she was shivering I assume because she was soaked from sleeping in the waterer)

A few minutes later she had gone over to the outdoor waterer and was standing there; weakly, but alive.

So, I'll leave her alone and see what happens. The wormer comes tomorrow. Maybe it'll be a miracle. Probably not, but maybe.

 

[EggresiveAli]

Hang in there!!

 

[bbkaren]

lol I can't believe I don't know the difference between a live chicken and a dead one.

She also has a squishy (although normal sized) crop and her head smells like dead milk. Sour crop also then? I see monistat mentioned on this site - I don't have funds for any more medicine so I wonder if I should give it a try with her.

I've given her some electrolyte solution (salt/sugar/baking soda/water) and again, she's acting blind. Once I dipped her beak in it, she drank heartily. I brought some grain out and held it in front of her and she just stood there; I sprinkled it on the ground near her and she went after it. Weird chicken.

I hope she pulls through...she's a real tough cookie, I think!

 

[EggresiveAli]

Please pull through!!!

 

[BigECarter]

From how far gone she is, it doesn't sound like she will make it. Probably kinder to put her down. Easier said than done. I couldn't do it - I have gotten my husband to. Assuming that you give her a chance - can you get her some heat? I put mine in my shower with a space heater; you could use a pet carrier. A heat lamp would also work. You want to keep the temperature at 85 degrees or so. That way she isn't expending as much energy on maintaining her temperature.